The needs of the SDGs are human needs. All big and complex problems can be analysed by the use of Data.

Realtime data has been used to solved problems and determine true investments. Data has been used to help understand relationships among people, people’s movements and market behaviours.

UNICEF uses data science to determine which businesses are viable and true investments in different regions.

Speaking during the Nairobi Innovation Week 2017 side event tagged From Global Goals ( SDGs) to Action: Demonstrating the Power of Partnerships, Chris Fabian, UNICEF Innovator presented a paper on Provocations to a future world: How East African Tech start-ups can influence global innovation.

Using real examples of how data science has been used to tell how many people are employed and unemployed in a country using its twitter feeds.He said, Long ago, maps used to be lines drawn on paper, but they do not help to solve problems. When a map gives real data of people’s movements, where and what they buy, who they are interacting with, it helps to solve problems within that country.”

UNICEF has set up a Kshs. 11M venture fund that invests in open source technology solutions. Applications may be received from 30th March from start-ups in Blockchain, Augmented reality/virtual reality, sensors, machine learning, data science, Bots, 3D Printing and any other interesting topics.